Month of September 2025

Have you seen AI generated videos or photos of ordinary people with celebrities? It's so real that it's almost impossible to determine its authenticity. That got me thinking how scary things could get with the continuous technology improvement. I imagine severe implications in law and order enforcement. How would a judge admit photo evidence and ensure proof of irrefutability? Similarly, immigration control's problem would be to discover identity fakes. In many other aspects, AI will change the way we see or value things. An AI persona can mimic a singer's style and create new songs, throwing musicians and copyrights out of the window. The interior designer probably needs to find a new role. Even the burger flipper might be out of job soon. Those affected naturally would feel threatened. Livelihoods are at stake. The resultant discord among people would lead to a less trusting world. The future horizon is more stress, ironically caused by a smart technology that was supposed to bring better quality of life.

During the one week school holiday, a few friends and I took off to Batam for a quick weekend trip. They had previously taken part in a local golf tournament and lauded its smooth organization. Reporting to the ferry terminal at 730am, storm clouds brewed overhead. The writing was on the wall. Expectedly, a heavy downpour accompanied our journey to the island. Tee off time was immediate upon arrival, around 930am. Amid a drizzle, we got dressed, took the customary group photo and proceeded to the first hole. The thing about golf is, you make merry regardless of the weather as everyone came with little expectations but just for an enjoyable game, mindless chatter and a good dinner afterwards. The course condition was water logged with soft ground and patchy grass areas. Our fortune turned for the better after the third hole as the weather eased off. The scorecard looked brutal even though the caddies were giving positive encouragement. We managed to complete the game, had a buffet lunch (bee hoon, stir fried vegetable, fried fish fillet and sambal chicken) before heading to the hotel for a rest. Since there was time before dinner, we decided to go nearby for spa. A good choice since I fell asleep barely twenty minutes in. The dinner spread was exactly the same as lunch, catering to about 250 golfers from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. We sat with a group of older couples and they were repeat participants of this event. Everyone seemed to know what's coming as they waited patiently for the golf prizes to be given out, enjoyed a musical performance and finally the lucky draw started. Last year, there were electrical appliances, golf accessories and vouchers. This year, it was all cash, starting from about $50. I must say, the sponsors were generous, top prize was $1000. Amid the noise and anticipation, one name after another were called. My friend won $100 for a "consolation" prize. As the draw came to a close, there were tired faces, it's nearly 10pm. The evening ended on a high when I got picked for third prize, $500 gift! The next day's golf was as casual, ate the same lunch combination again and departed for home. Indeed, the entire program was well executed with expedited immigration, logistics and attractive prizes. We should be back next year.

Tip: Hyakumoku Junmain Daiginjo, delicate sweetness, clean undertone to have on its own